Toyota’s family sedan, the Camry, is consistently one of the best-selling cars in the United States. That’s why, when Toyota decides to debut their new model online with a heavy social media push, it’s newsworthy.
To introduce the newest model of the Camry, Toyota is streaming the process live on their official site, and, in fact, they are scheduled to show the first one roll off the factory floor in Georgetown, Kentucky during the broadcast. Of course, to celebrate the new Camry’s reveal, Toyota took to the social media networks, namely Twitter, to share the news:
There’s a lot of information coming out during the broadcast, which is still going on. For the tech sector, the vehicle will include access to Microsoft’s Bing search engine–one wonders if that includes free GPS–as well as the option to stream Pandora to the vehicle’s stereo. This latter piece of information is valuable in the sense that Pandora in the car sounds like a direct threat to the Sirius satellite radio service.
As for Bing, well, that gives them a boon over Google, but it’s doubtful such a designation will tilt the scales in Microsoft’s favor when it comes to search dominance. Nevertheless, to be included in such a popular vehicle can only be considered a plus for Bing.
The prices of these new models will vary from $24,725 to $25,900 for the hybrid model, which, according to the release, is lower than the 2011 rates. Twitter confirms this price drop as well:
Another point brought up by the presenters has to do with NASCAR’s use of Toyota parts and other car content. Because Camry and its parts are built in the United States, from Toyota’s perspective, no other car running in NASCAR uses more American-made content than Toyota does.
For a little more perspective, I steer you towards this particular thread, and the following quote:
…St. Angelo, a 30-year General Motors employee before moving to Toyota in April 2005, is referring to one of Toyota’s most popular talking points. The civilian versions of the three cars that compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series — the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Dodge Charger and Ford Fusion — are built either in Canada (the Charger and the Monte Carlo) or Mexico (the Fusion). Meanwhile more than 75 percent of the parts used here by Toyota (and 98 percent of the steel) comes from U.S. suppliers…..
While all of this is qualified as interesting facts in relation to Toyota and its Camry model, the way Toyota went about debuting the new model is the story.
Simulcasting video and social media engagement has not been done in relation to the debut of a new car model, especially from a company the size of Toyota, and for a car as popular as the Camry. Does this mean we can expect Toyota’s competitors to follow suit with their own exclusive video the next time the Mustang is remodeled?
It wouldn’t be at all surprising.
Speaking of reaction, Twitter seems to be largely impressed with the new models:
#camrylive Better than Hyundai and Ford!!
43 MPG CITY on the 2012 Camry…NO ONE ELSE TOUCHES THAT! AwesomeI was able to snag a couple of screenshots of the new Camry model, one of which leads the article and the following one:
Expect the 2012 model to sell as well, if not better, than the previous year’s, especially once you consider the price-drop and the improved technological features being offered.